Getting Youth into the Air

Getting Youth into the Air

The Civil Air PatrolGlider Program

Bob Semans, CAP Nevada Wing Glider Program

What’s it all about?

• Intro to CAP• Scope of Glider Program activities• Benefits to cadets, glider pilots and others• What it takes to join & qualify

What is the Civil Air Patrol?

• US Air Force Auxiliary

• CAP is chartered by Congress– Non-Profit Corporation– Tax Exempt

CAP Geographic Organization

CAP Missions

• Emergency Services

• Aerospace Education

• Cadet Programs

CAP Glider Program - History• Test Program in Georgia• 1996 SSA & CAP reached agreement to jointly

support a CAP Glider Program• Orientation Flight Syllabus expanded to include

gliders• Glider Pilots recruited, primarily from clubs • CAP glider fleet built up

– Glider fleet now stands at ~ 42 --- Blanik L-23s, SGS 2-33s, ASK-21, ++

CAP Glider Fleet Locations

CAP Glider Program Activities• Cadet glider orientation flights

– 5 funded flights per cadet. – Flown by CFIGs OR Private Glider Pilots with

100 flights as PIC• Instruction – by volunteer instructors

– Primary instruction for cadets– Primary & transition instruction for Senior

Members• Check flights & proficiency flying

Glider Orientation FlightsSyllabus 1- 5

• Intro: 3 axis control, coordinated turns, pattern

• Hands-off flight, turns at various speeds

• Slow flight, stalls, steep turns

• Instrument use

• Soaring techniques

Cadet Glider Flight Instruction

• National Flight Academy – Gliders– ~ 100 cadets attended in 2011 at 4 sites

• Glider encampments– ~10 to 20 cadets per encampment

• Local on-going instruction programs

National Glider Flight Academy2011 Locations

NFA-G Minden 2011

National Glider Flight Academy2012 Locations + Encampments

On-going Cadet Instructionby local host Squadrons

• Several across the US

• Examples in Pacific Region:– California Wing at Los Alamitos– Nevada Wing at Jean & Minden

Why might a glider pilot be interested?

• It’s FUN

Why might a glider pilot be interested?

• It’s FUN• “Psychic income”

Why might a glider pilot be interested?

• It’s FUN• “Psychic income”• Introduce youth to aviation & soaring

Why might a glider pilot be interested?

• It’s FUN• “Psychic income”• Introduce youth to aviation & soaring• Increased glider activity & awareness

Why might a glider pilot be interested?

• It’s FUN• “Psychic income”• Introduce youth to aviation & soaring• Increased glider activity & awareness• Funded orientation flights for cadets

Why might a glider pilot be interested?

• It’s FUN• “Psychic income”• Introduce youth to aviation & soaring• Increased glider activity & awareness• Funded orientation flights for cadets• Flying and other expenses – deductible

Why might a glider pilot be interested?

• It’s FUN• “Psychic income”• Introduce youth to aviation & soaring• Increased glider activity & awareness• Funded orientation flights for cadets• Flying and other expenses – deductible• CAP Gliders available for use at lower rate

Why might a glider pilot be interested? • It’s FUN!• “Psychic income”• Introduce youth to aviation & soaring• Increased glider activity & awareness• Funded orientation flights for cadets• Flying and other expenses – deductible• CAP Gliders available for use at low rate• Training funds; a paid “Flying Opportunity”

How to Join the Program and Qualify as a CAP Glider Pilot -

• CAP Membership • Training – Mostly on-line courses:

– CAP History & Organization– Cadet Protection Policy & Practices– Equal Opportunity Policy– Safety Topics– Flight Regulations

• Check Flight

Check Flight• Required

– ONCE in each aircraft type (Initial)– Annually in each aircraft group (Gliders)

• Pre-requisites for check flight:– On-line exam on Operations Regs (40 questions)– Answer Aircraft Questionnaire for EACH aircraft in

which you are qualified

Aircraft Questionnaire

• Speeds (best glide, min sink, stall, etc.)• Rope break actions• Take-off and landing check lists• Spin recovery• Weight and balance

Recap

• Intro to CAP• Scope of Glider Program activities• Benefits to cadets, glider pilots and others• What it takes to join & qualify

Recap• Intro to CAP• Scope of Glider Program activities• Benefits to cadets, glider pilots and others• What it takes to join & qualify

• There are more than 26,000 Cadets in CAP - A few may be waiting for you!

Bob Semans semans@charter.net

NV 775-267-4157 CA 650-358-8898

Douglas County Composite Squadron NV-067Minden-Tahoe Airport (MEV)